Bottle dispenser



Aug. 10, 1948. A. BLAIR ET AL BOTTLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 9. 1946 INV T R6 BY ,l Y6) .Y mg ATTORNEYS.

W TNESSES: @i 0 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A. BLAIR ET AL BOTTLE DISPENSER Aug. 10, 1948.

Filed April 9, 194s VMM INV

WITNESSES: y.

Aug. 10, 1948. A. BLAIR ET Al.

BOTTLE DISPENSER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 9. 1946 llTNESSESr 0.

@Paw/w Hui-f ATTORNEY Aug. 10, 1948. A. BLAIR ET AL 2,445,807

BOTTLE DISPENSER Filed April 9. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 wlTNEssEs; INVEN S C l amm m i JM #.{opaegw au.; ATTORNEYS.

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 21 'EN r- A. BLAIR ET AL BOTTLE DISPENSER Aug. w, i948.

Filed April 9, 1946 lNvE T RS /wwa/J H. 6b BY f /Lawn ,pi/Mind', mm

bzh/Q ATTORNEYS.

VTNESSES: .0. 5..' l

Patented Aug. 10, 1948 BOTTLE DISPENSER Alexander Blair and Francis H. Collins, Pittsburgh, Pa.; said Collins assignor to said Blair Application April 9, 1946, Serial No. 660,762,

15 Claims. (C1. S12-88) This invention relates to dispensers of the coin controlled type for bottles containing liquid refreshment. Bottles is used herein in a broad sense to mean any suitable containers, whether made of glass, metal, paper or other materials.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a coin controlled bottle dispenser of large capacity which permits a customer to select any bottle in the dispenser, but which allows only one bottle to be withdrawn for each coin inserted in the dispenser, and which is easy to refill.

In accordance with this invention a case is provided which is large enough to house several parallel rows of bottles containing different liquids or liquids having different flavors. Means are provided for normally retaining the bottles in the case, but the retaining means can be released by coin controlled means to permit any selected bottle to be withdrawn from the case. While the selected bottle is being withdrawn, the rest of the lbottles are automatically locked in the case so that only one bottle can be removed for each coin deposited. Preferably, the bottles are held by their necks by means of separable members, and the selected bottle separates the members engaging it when it is lifted. The separation of the last-mentioned members actuates means which hold the rest of the separable members in bottleholding position. The separable members may include a single slidable member for each row of bottles, or a series of slides for each row. In the first case the slides cooperate with a stationary member to hold the bottles in the case, while in the second case the slides in each line are adapted to receive the necks of the bottles between their ends which, preferably, are recessed for this purpose. Provision is made for urging the slides in each line toward one another to narrow the spaces between their ends suffi ciently to prevent the bottles from being lifted through those spaces. Means are provided for locking the slides in bottle-retaining position. Coin controlled means, which releases the locking means when a coin is inserted, permits a selected bottle to separate the separable members engaging it as the bottle is lifted, and thus permits the bottle to be withdrawn from the case. At the same time the slides of the other lines are maintained in bottle-locking position by means actuated by the separation of the members engaging the particular bottle being withdrawn from the case. Therefore, although a customer may have his choice of any bottle in the case, he can only withdraw a single bottle selected by him, because all of the rest will be locked in the case until another coin is inserted. The tops of the bottles are covered by sliding panels, any one of which may be moved aside to expose a single bottle in one or more lines while all of the rest of the bottles remain coveredl The preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of our dispenser; Fig. 2 is a similar view with the cover raised; Fig. -3 is a view, with the cover removed for the sake of clearness, showing one of the bottlesbeing withdrawn from the case; Fig. 4 is an end view of the dispenser; Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line V-V of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken on the line VI--VI of Fig. 2 with the cover down; Fig. 7 is a view, similar to Fig. 3, of a modication of this invention; and Fig. 8 is a vertical section taken on the line VIII-VIII of Fig. 7.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings, a case I is provided which is large enough to' contain several rows of bottles 2 and the ice which keeps their liquid contents cool. To simplify the drawings, a case is shown that will accommodate only two short rows of bottles, but in practice the case generally is large enough to hold several dozen bottles. The case may be provided with legs or be supported by a table or the like. Extending across'the top of the case on both sides of the rows of bottles are rails 3 the sides of which are provided with grooves 4 that support the side edges of lines of slides 6, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6. The ends of the slides preferably are provided with recesses so as to form openings between the slides for receiving the reduced necks of the bottles when the slides are disposed end to end. Movement of the slides toward the left is limited by normally stationary L-shape members 'l (Fig. 6) which are hinged at their lower ends to the end wall of the case and which are provided with vertical openings 8 for receiving pins, to be described later, that hold these members in position. As shown best in Fig. 6, the slide at the opposite end of each line has a block yl! attached to its lower surface with a coil spring Il compressed between the block and the adjacent end of the case in order to urge the slides toward one another. The openings between the slides in which the bottle necks are disposed are smaller, when the slides are together than the lower portions of the bottles, whereby to prevent the bottles from being withdrawn from the case.

The .slides at the right hand ends of the lines also carry horizontal wedges I3 which project from their outer ends and from the end of the 3 case itself. The backs of the wedges preferably are parallel to the back of the case, and their fron-t edges are inclined. In order to lock the slides in their bottle-retaining position, locking members I4 are disposed at the end of the oas-e adjacent the points of the wedges. These members, by blocking movement of the wedges to the right, normally keep the slides from being moved along the rails and separated. The rectangular locking members are mounted in grooves IB in vertically spaced rails I1 extending across the end of the case, land preferably carry vertical rollers I8 at their ends. All except the rear locking members are slidable along the grooves. The locking members normally are urged rearwardly toward one another by means of a spring I9 compressed between the front member and a conventional coin controlled device 2| attached to the front of rails I1. When together, the adjoining rollers of different locking members are disposed a't the points of the wedges', as shown in Fig. 2. The coin controlled device normally keeps the locking members from being moved forward,r to prevent .the wedges from being m-oved outwardly between them.r

When a coin is dropped in the device ZI i-t releases the locking members I4 and allows one or more of them, depending on the line from which a bottle is being removed, to be moved forward by the wedge at the end-'oi that line, because. the in clined edge of the wedge pushes the adjoining roller t8 forward as the bottle being .withdrawn separates the pair of slides engaging it. The locking member or members moved ahead by that wedge block outward movement. of any wedge. in .1.

front ofthe displaced wedge. while at the same time the rea-r edge ofthe same wedge .prevents any locking members behind it from being moved forward by other wedges. This prevents any other bottles from being. withdrawn from the case.

To prevent anyone from holding the wedge that has Vbeen moved to therightinitsright hand position so that other bottles. might be removed from the same line without. paying for them, the case is. provided with a hinged and. locked cover ZE. The bottom of this. cover i-s provided with short` pins 21 that. project into thehol-es 8' in the L-shape mem-bers 1 to `hold them in place when the cover is closed, as. shown in. Fig. 6. When the covers raised by the service man who wishes 'to refill thecase, members. 1 are. released from the pins and can beY swung outwardly from between the; rails as indicated in broken lines in Fig.. 6. This allows the slides to be separated so that. new bottles canbe. dropped down between thenL The-cover has =a frame 28 withslots 2.9 extending acrossit, for receiving. the opposite ends of a. pluralityof slidng'panels 3l that form the top of .the-cover.` VThere is a separate panel above each cross row of. bottles, and asshown in Fig. 6, there a, space. at the right. of the right hand panel onlywidey enough to receivev that panel when it is slid to the right- That space. is covered by astationary panel 32 vunder which Ithe right hand panel can slide; but. normally the slidingI panel is pulled to the left by coil springs 33 attached toit and to pins- 34 projecting inwardly from the front andback of the. frame- The sliding panels there.- tore are. held together sothat. the bottles-will be covered except when one or more of the panels is pushed to: the right. As a further precaution against theft of bottles, aplate may be. lsecured to the. bottom of the cover frame and be provided withcircular openingsA 31 just large enough to allow the bottles to be lifted through them.

Y rails l1.

When a customer desires to secure a bottle from this dispenser he drops a coin of the correct denomin-ation in the slot of the coin controlled device 2| to release, in well known manner, the locking members I4. He then slides one or more panels 3| to the right until he uncovers the bottle containing the liquid he wishes to drink, whereupon he grasps lthe top of the bottle and lifts it from the case. This is permitted because the released locking members I4 permit the slides in any line to be separated by the bottle that it is desired to remove. For example, the second bottle from the right inthe front row in Fig. 3 is shown as being lifted between the adjoining pair of slides 6. This has moved the two sli-des at the right of the bottie toward the iight end of the case, and caused the adjoining wedge I3 to be projected between the front pair of rollers I8. The front locking member is moved ahead by the inclined front edge of the wedge to permit this projection of the wedge between the rollers, but the middle locking member is maintained in its original position by the rear edge of the wedge so that no bottle can be removed from the back row. As soon as the bottle has been removed, `the displaced slides are snapped back to their original` position by the spring Il in ythat line, the displaced locking member is. retained to operative position by spring I8, and the panels 3| likewise are moved back into covering position by the springs. 33v attached to them. Another bottle therefore can not be removed until another coin isdropped in the coin controlled device 2L i In case 4a bottle is lifted from4 the rear row instead of the front. row.. the wedge t3 at the end of that row will be projected between the middle and rear locking members I4, as shown in Fig.. 4. The inclined irontr edge of the wedge will move the middle and iront .locking members forward toa position in which the other, or front wedge will strike against the middle locking member if any attempt-is made to move that wedge to the right. Consequently, the front row of Vslides are locked together when a bottle is being removed from the rear row.

Referring now tothe embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. '1 and 8, instead of using a line of slides for each row of bottles, a single long slide 4I. is employed. The two parallel slides shown are mounted in. grooves in rails. 3. that extend across the` top of the case I. to which they are secured. Each slide is provided with a series of openings '4Z which are large enough to permit the bottles 2.', with which the case is stocked. to pass through them. The. bottom. of the case is provided with a plurality :of shallow recessesv 43 lor receiving the bottoms. of the bottles in order t-o properly position the bottles in the case. One end of each slide carries a Wedge. lf3', like those previously described, which normally is held m its left hand position by locking members. |14 slidably mounted across the ends of the slidesY in grooved In this position the slide engages or is disposed close to the right. hand side. of the bottle necks, as shown in Fig. 8r and in the, back row of Fig. '1.

As the size-of openings 42 in the slides can not be changed, additional means must beprovided to help look the bottles in the case. This means, in this embodiment, consists oi plate 36' mounted on the bottom of cover trame 28'. The plate openings 31, which are large enough to allow the bottles to pass through them, and are substantially the same size as slide openings 42, are disposed in. such position relative to the underlying slide openings that the plate openings are offset to the right relative to the slide openings so that the plate will engage or be close tothe left side of the bottle necks. In other words, the effective size of the passage through two superimposed 1 openings 3l and 42 is reduced to such an extent that the bottle therein can not be lifted through the slide and plate.

In order to remove any desired bottle from th case the necessary coin is dropped in coin controlled device 2|', which releases locking members lli. The selected bottle then is pulled upwardly by its upper end, and this movement causes it to push the adjoining slide to the right until the openings in the lslide register with the plate openings above, as shown in the front row in Fig. 7. The bottle, such as the second from the right, can be lifted through the registering openings because they are large enough to pass the largest diameter of the bottle. Although, the other slide and plate openings in the same row register with each other at the same time, no other bottles can be removed from that row because sliding panels 3|' cover their upper ends and can not be moved aside while the rst bottle is being withdrawn from the case. Also, the wedge i3 carried by the displaced slide prevents, as explained in 'connection with the nrst embodiment, the other slide or slides from being moved toward the right to release bottles in any other row.

The dispenser just described is especially easy to refill. All that has to be done is to unlock and lift the cover. The new bottles then can be lowered into the case through the openings in thev slide and set in recesses 43. When the cover is replaced, plate openings 31' will be lowered over the bottle necks, and in cooperation with the slides lwill hold the bottles in the case.

A bottle dispenser constructed in accordance with. this invention has, in addition to the advantages of simplicity and dependability, the advantage of allowing a customer to choose any bot tle in the case. He does not have to take the bottle that happens to be at the end of any given row, as is the case with dispensers of this chara-cter now in use. When a customer knows that he always can select the particular bottle that he prefers, instead of having to take whatever bottle happens to be next in line, he is more likely to make use of the dispenser, thereby increasing sales.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, we have explained the principle and construction of our invention and have illustrated and described what we now consider to represent its best embodiment. However, we desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

We claim:

l. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, .comprising a case for housing a plurality of bottles, separable members adapted to hold the bottles in the case by their necks, means normally locking said members in bottle-holding position, coin controlled means for releasing said locking means to permit any selected bottle to Separate said separable members engaging it, whereby the selected bottle can be withdrawn from the case, and 'means actuated by the separation of said last-mentioned members as said se lected bottle is withdrawn for holding others of said members in bottle-holding position.

2. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, horizontal separable members in the case for each row of bottles, the members in each row being provided with cooperating openings or receiving the bottle necks, means urging the separable members in each row horizontally in a direction to lock the bottles in said openings, means for locking the slides in their bottle-lockving position, coin controlled 'means for releasing said locking means to permit any selected bottle to separate the separable members engaging it as the bottle is lifted, whereby the bottle can be withdrawn from the case, and means actuated by the separation of said last-mentioned members as said bottle is lwithdrawn for holding the separable members of any other row in bottle-locking position.

3. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing a plurality of bottles, separable members adapted to hold the bottles in the case .by their necks, means normally locking said members in bottle-holding position, coin controlled means for releasing said locking means to permit any selected bottle to separate said separable members engaging it, whereby the selected bottle can be withdrawn from the case, and means for holding the rest of said separable members in bottle-holding position while the selected bottle is being removed from the case.

4. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the slides in each line being adapted to receive the bottle necks between their ends, means urging the slides in each line toward one another to narrow the space between their ends suiciently to lock the bottles in the case, means for locking the slides in their bottle-locking position, coin controlled means for releasing said locking means to permit a selected bottle to separate the pair of slides engaging it as the bottle is lifted, whereby the bottle can be withdrawn from between said pair of slides, and means actuated by the separation of said pair of slides as said bottle is withdrawn for holding the slides of any other line in bottle-locking position.

5. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, la line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the ends of the slides in each line being provided with recesses for-ming openings between the slides for receiving the bottle necks, means urging the slides in each line toward one another to narrow said openings suiciently to lock the bottles in the case, means for locking the slides in their bottle-locking position, coin controlled means for releasing said locking means to permit a selected bottle to push one of the pair of slides engaging it away from the other as the bottle is lifted, whereby the bottle can be withdrawn from between said pair of slides, and means actuated by said movement of said one slide as said bottle is withdrawn for holding the slides of any other line in bottle-locking position.

6. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a oase for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the slides in each line being adapted to receive the bottle necks between their ends, stationary means engaging the slides at one end of the lines, resilient means at the opposite end of the lines urging the slides in each line toward one another to narrow the space l between their endsL sufficiently tov loch theV bottles im the case, means normally holding the slides against movement away from. said stationary means, coin controlled means for releasing said holding means to permit a selected bottle to push one of the pair of slides engaging; it in a direction away from said stationary means as the bottle is lifted, whereby the bottle can be withdrawn from between said pair oi slides, and meansv actuated by said movement of said one slide as said bottle is Withdrawn for holding the slides of any other line in bottle-locking position.

7. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the slides ineach line being adapted toreceive the bottle necks between their ends, stationary means engaging the vslides at one end of the lines, displaceable members at the opposite end of the lines normally holding the slides close enough together to lock the bottles in thev case, coincontrolled: means for releasing said displaceable members` to permit a selected bottle to push one of the pair of slides engaging it in a direction away from said stationary means as the bottle is lifted, whereby the bottle `can be withdrawn from between said pair of slides, and means actuated by said movement of said one slide as said bottle is withdrawn for maintaining the displaceable member at the end of any other line in operative position to keep the slides in that line in bottle-locking position.

8. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the slides in each line `being adapted to receive the bottle necks between their ends, stationary means engaging the slides at one end of the lines, a plurality of longitudinally movable locking members extending across the opposite end of the lines for normally holding the slides close enough together to lock the bottles in the case, said members being` movable transversely of said lines to release the slides, coin released means for holding said members in operative position, release of said members permitting a selected bottle to push one of the pair of slides engaging it toward said locking members as the bottle isl lifted, whereby the bottle can be withdrawn from between said pair of slides, and a retaining member movable by said one slide toward said members for holding a locking member at the end of any other line in operative position as said bottle is withdrawn.

9. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the slides in each line being adapted to receive the bottle necks' between their ends, stationary means' engaging the slides at one end of the lines, a plurality of longitudinally movable locking members extending across the opposite end of the lines for normally holding the slides close enough together to lock the bottles in the case, said members being movable transversely of said lines to release the slides, coin released means for holding said members in operative position, release of said members permitting a selected bottle to push one of the pair of slides engaging it toward said locking members as the bottle is lifted, whereby the bottle can be withdrawn from between said pair of slides, said locking members carrying rollers attheir ends, and a wedge at said opposite end of each line adapted to be moved by the slides toward one et saidI rollers, said oney slide moving: the adjacent wedge toward the adjacent roller as said bottle is withdrawm whereby tov hold a locking member at the end of any other line in operative position.

1-0'. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said; bottles, a line of horizontal locking slides in the case for each row of bottles, the slides in each. line being adapted to receive the bottle necks between their ends. stationary means engaging the slides at one end of the lines, wedges at the opposite end. of said lines movable lengthwise thereof by said slides, a pluralityl of longitudinal'ly movablelocking members extending across said lines with their ends adjacent the points of said wedges, a spring urging said members toward one another to hold the slides close enough together to lock the bottles inv the case, and coin. released means for holding said members in bottle-locking position, release of said members permitting a wedge in any line to be pushed past said locking members as a selected bottle in that line is lifted from between a pair of slides, and said movement of said wedge-holde ing a locking member at the endof any other line in operative position as said bottle is' withdrawn.

11i. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a plate provided with rows of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles, a slide extending along each row of said openings and provided with a row of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles and to register with the adjacent row of plateV openings, all of saidv openings being larger than the bottles, means urging the slideslengthwise to lock the bottles in the case, means for locking the slides in their bottle-locking position, coin controlled means for releasing said locking means to permit a selected bottle to push the slideV en'- gaging it lengthwise as the bottle is lifted, whereby to cause the openings in the slide to register with the adjacent plate openings, and means actuated by the displaced slide as said bottle is lifted for holding the slide adjacent any other row of plate openings i-n bottle-locking posi-tion.

1-2. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks,V comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a plate provided with rows of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles, a slide extending along each row of said openings and provided with a row of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles and to register with the adjacent row of plate open,- ings, all of said openings being larger than the bottles, displaceable members at one end of the slides normally holding them with the bottle necks clamped in said openings, coin controlled means for releasing said displaceable members to permit a selected bottle to push the adjoining slide in a direction to cause its openings to register with the adjacent plate openings. as the bottle is lifted, and means actuated by' said slide as the bottle is lifted for maintaining the dis placeable member at the end of any other slide in operative position to keep saidv other slide in bottle-locking position.

13. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing a plurality of bottles, separable members adapted to hold the bottles in the case by their necks, means normally locking said members in bottle-holding position, coin controlled meansfor releasing said locking means to permit any selected bottle. to separate said separable members engaging it, whereby the selected bottle can be Withdrawn from the case, and means adapted to lock the rest of the bottles in the case while the selected bottle is being removed, said last-mentioned means including means adapted to cover the rest I" the bottles in the row from which the selected bottle is being removed.

14. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a plate provided with rows of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles, a slide extending along each row of said openings and provided with a row of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles and to register with the adjacent row of plate openings, all of said openings being larger than the bottles, means urging the slides lengthwise to lock the bottles in the case, means for locking the slides in their bottle-locking position, coin controlled means ier releasing said locking means to permit a selected bottle to push the slide engaging it lengthwise as the bottle is lifted, whereby to cause the openings in the slide to register with the adjacent plate openings, means actuated by the displaced slide as said bottle is lifted for holding the remaining slides in bottle-locking positions, and means above the displaced slide adapted to cover all openings therein except the one through which the selected bottle is being lifted.

15. A dispenser for bottles having reduced necks, comprising a case for housing parallel rows of said bottles, a plate provided with rows of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles, a slide extending along each row of said 10 openings and provided with a row of openings adapted to receive the necks of the bottles and to register with the adjacent row of plate openings, all of said openings being larger than the bottles, means urging the slides lengthwise to lock the bottles in the case, a plurality of longitudinally movable locking members extending across one end of the slides for holding them in bottle-locking position, said members being movable transversely of the slides to release the slides, coin released means for holding said members in operative position, release of said members permitting a selected bottle to push the slide engaging it toward said locking members as the bottle is lifted, whereby to cause the openings in the slide to register with the adjacent plate openings, and a wedge at the end of each slide and adapted to be moved thereby toward said locking members, the ends of the locking members being adjacent the points of the wedges, and the displaced slide moving the adjacent wedge between the ends of adjacent locking members as said selected bottle is lifted to thereby hold a locking member at the end of any other slide in operative position.

ALEXANDER BLAIR. FRANCIS H. CGLLINS.

REFERENCES CITED Name Date Warner et al. Oct. 3, 1939 Number 

